Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 469. Jade Soul's Cold Radiance Breaks Through Demonic Barriers; Crimson Silk Shadow Protects the Heaven of Love.
Amidst the screams, Yelü Deguang immediately understood and asked in a trembling voice, "Transplanting Flowers and Jade! You know the evil arts of the Transplanting Flower Palace!"

Shi Feiyang sneered, "Evil? What is evil? What is righteous?" His "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill was activated, and the Khitan soldiers affected by the spiked club suddenly coughed up blood and curled up into monkey shapes.

His voice, sharp as an icicle in the wind and snow, declared righteously and solemnly: "To invade Han territory and slaughter the people, that is true evil!"

The dust settled, and the stone steps of Wanghu Terrace were soaked with blood.

Yelü Deguang's left arm was entangled by the silver threads of Shi Feiyang's "Heavenly Silkworm Skill." The silvery-white threads were spreading along his meridians. As he watched his palm gradually turn black, he suddenly threw his spiked club at Yelü Shihan and angrily cursed, "You wicked daughter! You actually helped outsiders harm your father!"

Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill, causing ice and lightning to explode in mid-air, shattering the spiked club into pieces. He pressed his fingertips against Yelü Deguang's "Shanzhong acupoint," and the chilling aura of the Mingyu skill instantly froze the other's blood. He solemnly declared, "I said on the city tower of Youzhou that I would bring Youyun back to the Tang Dynasty."

His skin became increasingly translucent, like white ice shrouded in cold mist, and he said coldly, "Today, I will use your blood to pay tribute to the souls of the dead in Yanyun!" After saying that, he threw Yelü Deguang into the air and raised his palm to unleash the "Slaying Reincarnation" move of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique!
The icy waves brought by the palm strike tore Yelü Deguang's body apart. His head, adorned with the golden wolf crown, flew to the snow and rolled to Yelü Shihan's feet, its eyes wide open, gazing in the direction of Yanmen Pass—where the Tang army's banners bearing the character "Tang" were fluttering in the wind.

Suddenly, a deafening shout came from the cliff. He Quan slammed his dog-beating stick heavily on the ground and shouted first: "Having fought a hundred battles in the yellow sands, clad in golden armor, Shi Lang's ingenious plan brings peace to the world!" The shout spread like wildfire, and Awang's "Snow Plum Dart" disciples followed suit: "Having fought a hundred battles in the yellow sands, clad in golden armor, Shi Lang's ingenious plan brings peace to the world!"

Then, the news spread throughout the entire Yanmen Pass.

The reinforcements personally led by Li Danqing arrived just in time.

The young emperor lifted the carriage curtain, gazing at the icy, transparent figure on the Wanghu Terrace. Suddenly, he clenched his fist and shouted, "Having fought a hundred battles in golden armor, Shi Lang's brilliant plan brings peace to the world!" The 100,000 Tang soldiers immediately roared in unison, their voices crashing against the cliffs and shattering into countless pieces, then transforming into even greater waves that swept across the heavens and earth. The remnants of the Khitan army trembled at the shouts, throwing down their weapons and kneeling in surrender.

Yelü Shihan picked up the fragments of the Kunlun Mirror and suddenly pieced them together on Shi Feiyang's half—on the complete mirror surface, the blood-red sunset of Wanghu Terrace was reflected, as were the golden armor of the Tang army and the flickering firelight in Shi Feiyang's glass eyes.

Shi Feiyang suddenly turned around, his Xuan Shuang Blade pointing towards the grasslands beyond the pass, and roared, "Pass on my order! Treat the surrendered soldiers well, and give the dead a proper burial—anyone who dares to invade Han territory again, no matter how far away, shall be punished!" The snow in Yanyun cleared, and plum blossoms bloomed in the Han homeland. In March, the snow in Youzhou City was melting.

Yelü Shihan, who became Li Danqing's bride, had changed her silver fox fur coat into a Tang-style ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and was learning to embroider snow plum blossoms from Zhu Huiran.

Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword left icy marks in the courtyard, while Shi Feiyang accompanied Li Danqing to bury the complete Kunlun Mirror on the ruins of Wanghutai.

"Father, do you know?" the young emperor suddenly pointed to the light spots on the mirror and said with a profound meaning, "The Grand Tutor said that this is an ancient divine object that can reflect people's hearts."

Shi Feiyang's Xuan Shuang Blade gently tapped the mirror surface, the echo reverberating through the valley: "Child, what is more precious than divine objects is the heart of the people."

Looking at the grasslands beyond the pass that were gradually turning green again, he instructed, "As long as the people's hearts are with the Tang, let alone the Khitan, even the strongest barbarian cavalry cannot break through Yanmen Pass." At this moment, He Quan was directing the Beggars' Sect disciples to rebuild the ruins of Wanghutai.

Suddenly, Awang pointed to the horizon and exclaimed loudly, "Look, Master Shi! Spring has arrived!"

There, flocks of geese were flying by in a V-formation.

The moment Shi Feiyang looked up, sunlight shone through his translucent, icy skin, casting dappled patterns of light on the ground.

In the distance, the sound of camel bells could be heard from merchants. The market in Youzhou City was already bustling with activity. An old man selling flatbread was giving change in Tang coins. Khitan children dressed in Hanfu chased each other at the alley entrance, their silvery laughter startling the swallows under the eaves.

Shi Feiyang and his son Li Danqing exchanged smiles and embarked on their journey back to Luoyang.

On the dragon-scaled steps of Luoyang Palace, the morning frost had not yet dissipated.

Li Danqing stroked the paperweight carved with Xuan Shuang Blade on the desk when he suddenly saw Shi Feiyang approaching, stepping through the sunlight like scattered gold dust. His glassy eyes reflected the cloud patterns on the coiled dragon pillar, and the hem of his black brocade robe swept across the blue bricks, giving him a touch of the untamed spirit of a chivalrous knight-errant.

"Father, please look." The young Emperor Li Danqing unfolded the yellowed map, his fingertip touching the vermilion marks of the three towns in Hebei, and said in bewilderment, "Are these malignant tumors that have lingered for a hundred years truly like a carbuncle that is stuck in the bone?"

Yelü Shihan stood beside her husband, Li Danqing, her pretty face beaming with a smile, full of anticipation for her father-in-law, Shi Feiyang, to give her a good answer.

Shi Feiyang lightly twirled the Xuan Shuang Blade in his palm, its cold light flashing over the characters "Fanyang" and "Pinglu," and asked in return, "Does Your Majesty know that when An Lushan rebelled, his iron cavalry trampled Chang'an, the dust kicked up by their hooves was not dust, but the blood of the people?"

He suddenly chuckled, a hint of desolation in his voice, and analyzed, "When the Jiedushi system was first established, it was nothing more than a kite on a silken thread in the hands of the imperial court. But once that decree of decentralization was issued during the Tianbao era..." Xuan Shuang Blade slashed fiercely at the bronze candlestick, the candle wax instantly freezing into ice, and then sadly said, "It became a noose around the neck of the Former Tang Dynasty!"

Li Danqing's dragon robe trembled slightly, and the memorials on the table rattled: "Father Prime Minister, you mean that unifying military, political, and financial power is the real disaster!"

“Exactly!” Shi Feiyang nodded, a cold glint flashing in his glassy eyes, and said indignantly, “When An Lushan held the position of military governor of three towns, he held the swords of 100,000 iron cavalry in his left hand and grasped half of the country’s tax revenue in his right. When power outweighs reverence, people’s hearts become like wild horses.”

He suddenly grabbed a teacup from the table, smashed it on the ground, and cursed, "Those local tyrants in the three towns of Hebei, their official positions are passed down from father to son, they keep their taxes for themselves, and their soldiers are better equipped than the imperial guards! Your Majesty, this is not the territory of the Great Tang Dynasty, it is clearly a country within a country!"

Li Danqing and Yelü Shihan nodded repeatedly.

Morning light streamed through the carved window lattice, shimmering on Shi Feiyang's translucent, jade-like skin. He suddenly drew his Xuan Shuang Blade, the blade slicing five cold lines across the map, and questioned, "Child, do you remember how the Tianlang Guard assassins could come and go like ghosts during the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai?"

Li Danqing's expression hardened slightly as he replied, "Because they were secretly colluding with the Imperial Guards?"

"Excellent!" Shi Feiyang said firmly, grabbing a brush and quickly writing the five characters "Five Military Governors' Office." He then analyzed, "The root cause of the military governors' growing power lies in the unity of soldiers and officers! Those soldiers only care about the military governors' wine and meat, and don't care about the emperor's edicts."

Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang offered another suggestion: "I request Your Majesty to establish the Five Military Commissions! They will only be in charge of training and recruiting soldiers, but will not have the power to deploy troops! In case of war..."

His blade flicked up the tiger tally on the table, and he said in a deep voice, "Without His Majesty's golden decree, an army of 100,000 is nothing but a clay sculpture!"

Yelü Shihan listened intently, but Li Danqing suddenly stood up, his dragon robe sweeping away the memorial, and exclaimed, "What a brilliant five-army division! In this way, the military governors become toothless tigers!" Shi Feiyang shook his head and chuckled, his body shrouded in a faint mist as he circulated his Mingyu Gong, and then teased, "Your Majesty should not forget that before An Lushan rebelled, he was also considered a loyal and virtuous official by the court."

Then, he said solemnly, "Power is like strong liquor; the more you drink, the more sober you must be. Although the Five Military Commands have no power to mobilize troops, they can monitor them secretly. If any regional official dares to harbor disloyal thoughts..." He paused, then added, "His Majesty's imperial sword does not recognize any imperial relatives!"

Li Danqing and Yelü Shihan nodded, both breathing a sigh of relief.

Shi Feiyang continued, "Does Your Majesty know that the position of governor-general, though seemingly prestigious, is actually like a tiger locked in an iron cage?"

Li Danqing's eyes shone like stars as he said with great interest, "I'd like to hear the details!"

Shi Feiyang strolled to the map, pointed to several important towns, and said, "Personnel power is key!!! Although the governor can recommend officials, they still have to be screened by the Ministry of Personnel and personally appointed by His Majesty. Just like when I was in the Beggars' Sect, the elders recommended newcomers, but didn't they still have to get my approval as the leader?"

He suddenly shouted sternly, "If anyone dares to form cliques or engage in favoritism, the impeachment memorials from the Ministry of Personnel will be more powerful than my Heavenly Silkworm Technique!" Speaking of military power, Shi Feiyang's Xuan Shuang Blade suddenly transformed into a sky full of blade shadows, and he said with a clang, "The Governor's Battalion has only four or five thousand men. In front of the imperial army, they are nothing more than fireflies compared to the bright moon! The Grand Canal Transport and Salt Inspection Offices each have their own offices, and the Generals-in-Chief obey orders but not summons." The blade suddenly pointed at his own throat, and he said figuratively, "If I were the Governor-General, would I want to rebel? I would have to get past the eyes and ears of the Five Military Commanders' Office first, and then break through the Generals-in-Chief's sword formation!"

Li Danqing's blood boiled upon hearing this. He grabbed the imperial seal from the table and pressed it heavily, exclaiming, "Excellent! The power of finance must be returned to the imperial court! Let these regional officials have to ask for money even to build a government office!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Shi Fei praised, raising his finger and lifting the Xuan Shuang Blade, its cold light reflecting the golden gleam of the imperial seal. He then reminded, "Report three hundred taels to the Ministry of Revenue, and five hundred taels to His Majesty. Without money, soldiers, or men, even if An Lushan were reborn, he would only be a bandit who sighs in despair! Immediately, mint silver as the common currency!" Suddenly, the snow plum blossoms outside the hall were swept up by the wind, and Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword sliced ​​off the snow accumulated on the branches, turning it into an ice curtain.

Shi Feiyang gazed at the fluttering petals, gripped the Xuan Shuang Blade, and drew six ice characters in the air: "Personnel, Revenue, Rites, Military, Justice, and Works." He decisively said, "Your Majesty, I have one last plan—abolish the Prime Minister and establish the Six Ministries!"

Li Danqing suddenly stood up, the pearl on his dragon crown swaying wildly, and exclaimed, "Father, you mean..." "That's right!" Shi Feiyang said decisively, his glassy eyes reflecting the word "ice," and then analyzed, "The position of prime minister is as powerful as a mountain. Back then, Zhu Wen usurped the Tang Dynasty by monopolizing the power of the prime minister. Now, the six ministers are directly responsible to His Majesty, checking and restraining each other."

Xuan Shuang's blade suddenly shattered the character "相" (Xiang), vividly illustrating, "Just like the Dirty Clothes and Clean Clothes factions of the Beggars' Sect, they seem to be fighting tooth and nail, but in reality, they're all fighting for the sect's greater cause!" Zhu Huiran's Pure Heart Sword just happened to pry open the palace door, the sword light reflecting on Shi Feiyang's profile, and she teased, "Guo Lang's move is brilliant! Each of the six ministers is in charge of their own area, so no one can control everything. Just like the three of us, husband and wife, together we are invincible, but apart..." She suddenly chuckled, "...separately...Guo Lang will have to kneel on a washboard!"

A burst of laughter filled the hall. Shi Feiyang, however, suppressed his smile and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, a system is like a knife; it must be sharp, but more importantly, it must be wielded by a wise ruler. Once the north is stable, the people are prosperous, and with the millions of disciples of the Beggars' Sect serving as the Imperial Guard to gather intelligence..." As he spoke, his Xuan Shuang Blade pointed directly south, and he solemnly added, "At that time, pointing the sword at Jiangnan and unifying the country will be nothing more than a natural consequence!"

Li Danqing clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fierce fire, and resolutely said, "Very well! As Father Prime Minister says! I will inscribe this system on the imperial edict and see who dares to shake the foundation of the Tang Dynasty!"

Since the position of prime minister is to be abolished, and the new Tang emperor Li Danqing is growing up, it is time for him to rule in his own right. Moreover, he has the assistance of two empress dowagers, Zhu Huiran and Ling Shuangyue, and the beautiful and capable empress Yelü Shihan as his wise helpmate.

So, Shi Feiyang left Luoyang with peace of mind and returned to the Yihua Palace in the northwest. He hadn't been "home" for over a hundred years. He wondered how the Yihua Palace was doing now, who was in charge, whether there were still portraits of him, Yaoyue, and Lianxing enshrined there, and whether there had been any external threats.

In the martial arts world, upon learning that Shi Feiyang had retired from the military, countless gangs, bribed by some military governors and instigated by some small states, attempted to assassinate him along the way. As the yellow sand swept over the broken boundary markers of the ancient post road, Shi Feiyang's chestnut horse suddenly raised its head and neighed, rearing up on all four hooves.

Twenty feet away, twelve golden eagles spread their wings, blotting out the sky. Poisoned chains beneath their claws tore through the clouds, leaving trails of dark purple smoke in the air. The lead golden eagle knight ripped off his black iron mask, revealing a menacing eagle tattoo on his left cheek that gleamed in the blazing sun.

He said coldly, "Shi Feiyang! Finally, you're all alone. Heh heh! The military governor of Hedong has offered a reward of 100,000 taels of silver for your head with those glass-like eyes!" Shi Feiyang sneered, "Shameless scoundrel, greedy for money, a ruthless killer, deserving of death!"

The moment the Frost Blade was drawn, a vortex of icy cold air suddenly swept across an area of ​​ten feet.

He lightly touched the horse's back with his toes and used his "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill to leap into the air.

Amidst the sharp cries of the golden eagle, he moved like a butterfly flitting among flowers, darting freely through the crisscrossing iron chains.

Immediately afterwards, he unleashed the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" technique of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique! The sandstorm stirred up by the blade wind transformed into a raging torrent, instantly engulfing the three golden eagles. Feathers and flesh mixed with poisonous smoke exploded, splashing out three eerie purple flowers on the yellow sand.

The remaining knights whistled in unison, and the nine golden eagles suddenly formed the "Eagle Soaring Formation," their chains descending like a giant net. Shi Feiyang, however, neither dodged nor evaded. He rapidly circulated his Mingyu Gong, his skin glowing with a translucent jade color, making him resemble an ice sculpture shrouded in cold mist.

The moment the chain touched the hem of his clothes, it was twisted and deformed by the vortex-like suction, and the broken iron filings condensed into silver mist in the air.

Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang gripped the Xuan Shuang Blade and unleashed the "Slaying the Mortal World" move from the Hundred Victories Blade Technique! The blade flashed like a blood-red setting sun, and ice flowers bloomed from the throat of the last knight. Before the corpse even fell, Shi Feiyang suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end; a cold light carrying a sweet, metallic scent pierced through the air!

He spun around, brandishing his sword, only to see a crimson figure gracefully descend upon the golden eagle's corpse. Her scarlet cloak fluttered in the wind, like a burning sunset. The woman held a nine-section soft whip, the tip of which was wrapped with seven bone-piercing nails that gleamed with a ghostly blue light.

The cinnabar mole between her brows looked eerily blood-red under the crimson sunset, and the corners of her eyes were slightly upturned as if coated with poison. She wore a scarlet outfit embroidered with dark gold star and moon totems, and a half-carved jade pendant hung from her waist, swaying gently with her steps and making a soft, clear sound.

"The young leader of the Star Moon Sect?" Shi Feiyang raised an eyebrow and questioned, his Xuan Shuang Blade accurately deflecting the bone-piercing nail. The blade suddenly turned three inches from her throat, severing a strand of her hanging hair. He then said mockingly, "The accuracy of this hidden weapon is like it's delivering a love token to me." This beautiful girl was none other than Zheng Lingyi, the young leader of the Star Moon Sect.

Her soft whip suddenly transformed into a serpent, its barbs gleaming coldly as it aimed straight for Shi Feiyang's face. She roared, "The debt for destroying my Star Moon Divine Sect branch should be settled today!" Before she finished speaking, Shi Feiyang had already pounced on her like a ghost, his Xuan Shuang Blade pressed against her throat, but changed direction the instant it touched her skin.

This subtle hesitation allowed Zheng Lingyi to seize the opportunity, and she scooped up some gravel from the ground and threw it out.

Amidst the swirling sandstorm, the white-feathered arrows from the White Phoenix Shrine shot like meteors chasing the moon, while the Yin-Yang Blades of Sun and Moon Valley transformed into black and white streaks of light, attacking from all directions.

Shi Feiyang leaped onto the withered tree, his toes barely touching the ground. Activating his Mingyu Gong (a martial arts technique), his crystal eyes gleamed with a cold, eerie light amidst the sand and dust. With a flick of his long sleeves, he unleashed the "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill! White feather arrows veered and shot towards the disciples of Sun and Moon Valley, the yin and yang blades clashing with a piercing metallic clang, causing the sand within a radius of several feet to rustle. In the midst of the melee, Zheng Lingyi's soft whip suddenly wrapped around Shi Feiyang's wrist.

"Watch out!" she cried out, pulling him sharply behind her. Three poisoned white feathers grazed her shoulder, their bursting blood staining the star and moon totem crimson. Shi Feiyang grasped her pulse, sensing the chaotic energy surging within her body—clearly a sign of practicing the forbidden technique "Blood Moon Demon Art" of the Star Moon Cult. "Why did you save me?" Shi Feiyang demanded, channeling his power through his fingertips.

Zheng Lingyi suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and the cinnabar mole on her pale face became even more conspicuous.

She scolded him, "Don't flatter yourself... I'm going to kill you with my own hands..." Before she could finish speaking, her body went limp and she fell into his arms.

Shi Feiyang stared at her blood-stained cloak and suddenly noticed the engraving on the jade pendant at her waist—that half of the crescent-shaped jade pendant perfectly matched the pattern of the secret treasure of the Yihua Palace in his arms.

Shi Feiyang settled Zheng Lingyi in a makeshift thatched hut, and with his fingertips he condensed the chilling energy of the Mingyu Gong to suppress the rampant demonic energy within her body.

While unconscious, Zheng Lingyi mumbled incoherently, sometimes sneering, "Shi Feiyang, you can't escape," and sometimes sobbing, "Father, no..."

Clearly, Shi Feiyang had a grudge against Zheng Lingyi's father when he quelled rebellions or destroyed other small countries.

Perhaps Shi Feiyang wasn't fully aware of these grudges and grievances, because when he commanded his army, he showed no mercy to rebels and Jianghu gangs that defied the Tang Dynasty—a style consistent throughout his three lifetimes. Decisiveness and ruthlessness were his only unchanging characteristic across all three lifetimes. Suddenly, a strange noise came from outside the thatched hut. Shi Feiyang slipped out and saw disciples of the Fenglei Sect setting up the "Five Thunderbolts Formation."

Shi Feiyang's lips curled into a playful smile as he quietly circled around to the center of the formation. Suddenly, he unleashed the "Heavenly Silkworm Technique!" A burst of crystalline light surged from his palm, and the silver silkworm threads shot out, entangling the five lightning pillars in the formation. The instant his inner force was injected, the lightning reversed, leaving the Wind and Thunder Sect members battered and bruised.

"Master Shi, what skill!" A mocking voice came from the tree. Zheng Lingyi leaned against the trunk, her scarlet clothes stained with unhealed blood, which only made her eyes and brows appear more beautiful, like a poisonous flower. She brandished the soft whip in her hand and said fiercely, "Unfortunately, you saved the wrong person. The people of the Star Moon Sect never do anything that doesn't benefit them." With that, the soft whip shot out like a nimble snake towards Shi Feiyang's vital points.

Shi Feiyang sneered, "I, Shi, never do a losing business!" He swung his palms, using the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill to redirect her whip force in a different direction, while simultaneously using the "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill.

Zheng Lingyi's expression changed drastically, black blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, but she suddenly laughed and said fiercely, "You think you can subdue me like this?"

She suddenly bit her tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood mist. A blood-red moon wheel appeared in the blood mist, which was the killing move of the Blood Moon Demon Art, "Blood Moon Soul Devouring"!
At the critical moment, Shi Feiyang suddenly reached out and grabbed her waist. The Xuan Shuang Blade was placed between the two of them, and he used the "Breaking Heaven and Earth" technique of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique! The blade wind cleaved the blood moon, but it also caused the two of them to retreat at the same time.

Shi Feiyang looked at her purplish lips and suddenly took out a jade bottle from his bosom, reminding her, "This is an antidote made from a thousand-year-old snow lotus from the Western Regions. If you continue to circulate your internal energy, your meridians will be completely severed within three days."

Zheng Lingyi's eyes immediately turned pale, and she wanted to say something, but her vision went black and she fainted on the ground.

The poisonous miasma of southern Xinjiang, like a grayish-purple ribbon, meanders and coils along the ancient post roads.

Shi Feiyang gently placed Zheng Lingyi on the bamboo couch in the thatched hut, his Xuan Shuang Blade resting on his lap, his glassy eyes reflecting her pale, paper-like face.

The cinnabar mole between Zheng Lingyi's eyebrows appeared even more alluring on her skin, which was soaked with cold sweat, resembling a bead of blood that might burst at any moment.

"This is an antidote made from a thousand-year-old snow lotus from the Western Regions." Shi Feiyang took out the antidote again and persuaded Zheng Lingyi to take it. He then shook the mutton-fat jade bottle, and the pale golden liquid inside swayed gently, refracting tiny fragments of light.

He further explained, "If you forcefully circulate the Blood Moon Demon Art again, your meridians will break inch by inch within three days, turning into a pool of blood."

Zheng Lingyi struggled to sit up, her body trembling slightly beneath her crimson outfit, the hem of her dress embroidered with star and moon patterns drooping over the edge of the bed. She stared at the jade bottle, a complex expression flashing in her eyes, then suddenly sneered, "Aren't you afraid that after I get the antidote, I'll turn around and kill you?"

Shi Feiyang leaned against the mottled wooden pillar, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cloth handle of the Xuan Shuang Blade. The snow plum blossom pattern seemed to flow like a living thing against his transparent, jade-like skin. He said jokingly, "I'm afraid, but I'm even more afraid that if you die, the secret of this half of the jade pendant will never be known to anyone."

He took out the crescent-shaped jade pendant from his pocket; its warm luster echoed the half-piece at Zheng Lingyi's waist.

Zheng Lingyi's pupils contracted sharply, and a suppressed gasp escaped her throat. She suddenly coughed violently, and black blood seeped from between her fingers, dripping onto the bed and blooming into eerie ink flowers. After a long while, she trembled as she reached out and took the jade bottle. In that instant, Shi Feiyang clearly saw the old wound on her wrist—a crescent-shaped scar that was strikingly similar to the pattern on the jade pendant.

The night was as dark as ink, and the poisonous fog outside the thatched hut grew even thicker.

Shi Feiyang quietly got up, his black robe sweeping across the bronze candlestick on the table, and the flame suddenly shot up three inches.

He reached for his waist, and a mysterious deerskin bag, invisible to the naked eye, began to glow. From it, two auspicious beasts slowly emerged: the Vermilion Bird, its body ablaze with fire, its tail feathers like flowing sunset clouds; and the White Tiger, its fur snow-white, its eyes gleaming with a deep blue light.

"Go, protect her." Shi Feiyang gently stroked the Vermilion Bird's wings and said softly.

The Vermilion Bird let out a clear cry and transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the night. A moment later, a huge phantom of the Vermilion Bird landed behind the thatched hut, and a golden embroidered canopy slowly rose from its back, the cloud patterns embroidered on it appearing and disappearing in the moonlight.

Shi Feiyang picked up the sleeping Zheng Lingyi, her hair brushing against his wrist, carrying a faint scent of blood. As he settled her inside the embroidered curtains, Zheng Lingyi unconsciously curled up like a wounded cub. Shi Feiyang removed his outer robe and gently draped it over her; the dark patterns on the black fabric echoed the cloud patterns on the embroidered curtains.

"Get some rest," he murmured, his fingertips brushing against the stray hairs on her forehead, but recoiling as if electrocuted the moment they touched her skin.

As he turned to leave, the white tiger silently followed behind him, the eerie blue light emanating from its claws dispelling some of the poisonous mist surrounding the thatched hut.

The next day, Zheng Lingyi finally awoke. She lifted the embroidered curtains, and what came into view were the enormous wings of the Vermilion Bird, gleaming with a soft red light under the moonlight. In the thatched hut not far away, Shi Feiyang was sitting opposite the White Tiger, the Frost Blade in his hand sliding back and forth on the whetstone, making a soft sound.

"Hey!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice still a little hoarse, and said coquettishly, "What are you doing? Locking me up in this birdcage like a prisoner?"

Without even looking up, Shi Feiyang smiled and said with a grin, "This Vermilion Bird can dispel poisonous fog within a ten-mile radius, which is much more effective than your Blood Moon Demon Art."

He sheathed the sharpened Xuan Shuang Blade, rose and walked toward the embroidered tent, saying with concern, "Are you hungry? Try the bamboo rice from the Southern Frontier."

As he spoke, he handed over a bamboo tube that was still steaming. Zheng Lingyi stared at the bamboo tube suspiciously, then glanced at the faint glint of light at his waist: "What other treasures do you have at your waist? A flying bird, a glowing tiger, or perhaps a talking stone?"

Shi Feiyang suddenly leaned closer, his translucent, jade-like skin almost ethereal in the moonlight. His breath brushed against her ear as he teased, "Perhaps there's a cage that can imprison you." Zheng Lingyi's expression changed drastically, and Shi Feiyang then smiled and stepped back, jokingly saying, "Just kidding. But these Vermilion Bird and White Tiger are originally the auspicious beasts guarding the Yihua Palace; ordinary people can't see them."

Zheng Lingyi took a bite of the bamboo rice, the fragrance of glutinous rice mingling with the salty aroma of cured meat spreading in her mouth. Watching Shi Feiyang and Baihu playfully interacting, she suddenly felt that this person, whom she had once regarded as an enemy, didn't seem so hateful after all.

At midnight in the southern borderlands, the poisonous miasma grew thicker, churning like ink in the valleys. Beside the Poison Dragon Pool, Shi Feiyang sat cross-legged on a blue stone in front of his thatched hut, a white tiger lying at his feet, its eerie blue eyes piercing through the mist, warily scanning the surroundings.

He held two halves of a jade pendant in his palm. Moonlight filtered through his translucent, jade-like skin, swirling across the patterns on the pendants and casting a faint star map on the ground. Suddenly, a slight noise came from inside the embroidered curtain. Shi Feiyang flicked his finger, sending a wisp of icy air towards the candle wick, instantly illuminating the dim oil lamp as bright as day.

Zheng Lingyi, wrapped in his black outer robe, stood barefoot on the bamboo planks. The star-and-moon patterned outfit hung loosely on her body, giving her a somewhat languid air. The vermilion birthmark between her eyebrows was strikingly bright in the warm light, and her eyes, as they moved, seemed to possess a thousand charms. She teased, "Master Shi, what a refined taste you have! Staying up so late at night, staring blankly at two broken stones?"

Shi Feiyang chuckled, put the jade pendant into his pocket, and said seriously, "Miss Zheng, do you know that this half of the jade pendant is not only a key, but also a death warrant?"

He suddenly stood up, activated his Mingyu Gong, and the cold mist emanating from his body condensed into ice flowers in the air. He said seriously, "Thirteen days ago, the Golden Light Sect's spies found the body of a branch elder of the Star Moon Divine Sect in a dry well thirty miles away. The manner of his death... is very similar to the way you used the Blood Moon Demon Art."

Zheng Lingyi's expression changed drastically. She had somehow already gripped the soft whip in her hand and said angrily, "You doubt me?"

"I wouldn't dare," Shi Feiyang chuckled, his toes barely touching the ground as he used the profound "Hidden Identity and Name" lightness skill to circle behind her. His Xuan Shuang Blade pressed against her back, but he didn't apply force. He solemnly said, "However, that elder also carried half a jade pendant similar to yours. Miss Zheng, what exactly has the Star Moon Divine Sect been plotting all these years?" Before he finished speaking, rustling sounds suddenly arose around the thatched hut. The white tiger abruptly stood up, letting out a low roar.

Shi Feiyang looked closely and saw countless venomous spiders, each the size of a bowl, crawling out of the poisonous mist. Their eight compound eyes glowed with an eerie green light, and the hairs on their legs were covered in sticky fluid. Wherever they passed, wisps of white smoke rose from the bluestone.

"It's the Heart-Eating Spider from the Miao Jiang Ten Thousand Poisons Sect!" Zheng Lingyi exclaimed, whipping out her soft whip to entangle a leaping poisonous spider. She then said tremblingly, "They specialize in biting the seven orifices of living people, and those who are bitten will turn into pus within three breaths!"

Shi Feiyang's expression was solemn as he unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Cloud" technique from the Hundred Victories Saber Style with both palms! The palm wind swept out like a tidal wave, shattering the front row of poisonous spiders into a bloody mist. However, the spider swarm was too numerous, and in the blink of an eye, it filled in again.

He suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck. It was a poisonous spider that had silently descended from above his head, its fangs only three inches away from the back of his neck!
"Watch out!" Zheng Lingyi cried out in alarm. Her soft whip shot out like a serpent, coiling around the poisonous spider's body. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shi Feiyang used his "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill to redirect the spider swarm's attack towards the boulder behind them.

With a loud bang, the boulder was blasted to pieces, and the fragments shot towards the two like projectiles.

In the nick of time, Shi Feiyang grabbed Zheng Lingyi's waist and used his lightness skill to leap onto the Vermilion Bird's back. The embroidered curtains were riddled with holes from the shattered stones. Looking down at the swarm of poisonous spiders below, Zheng Lingyi said with lingering fear, "These spiders came suspiciously; someone must have deliberately lured them here..."

The Vermilion Bird spread its wings and soared high, but suddenly let out a mournful cry in mid-air.

Shi Feiyang took out a large tent from the mysterious deerskin bag at his waist and re-attached it to Zhuque's back. Then, he looked down and saw a man in black robes standing among the spiders, holding a bone flute and playing a strange tune.

The Vermilion Bird's wings trembled uncontrollably, and it began to plummet rapidly. "It's the Beast Control Flute!" Shi Feiyang gritted his teeth and activated his Mingyu Gong at high speed. He unleashed the "Emperor Heavenly Thunder" divine skill with both palms, and the ice crystals all over his body transformed into ice lightning, blasting towards the black-robed man.

The man in black robes dodged, interrupting the flute music in the process. Zhuque seized the opportunity to steady herself and landed on a cliff face. There was a hidden cave entrance in the cliff, and Shi Feiyang, carrying Zheng Lingyi, leaped into it.

The cave was pitch black, and the smell of mildew mixed with rust filled the air. Zheng Lingyi fumbled to light a tinderbox. In the flickering light, she could see strange runes carved on the cave walls and white bones scattered on the ground, some of which were dressed in the attire of the Star Moon Cult.

“This is… a secret passage in the forbidden area of ​​the sect!” Zheng Lingyi explained, her face pale. “Legend has it that only the leaders of the sect throughout the ages know the entrance, and these people…” Before she could finish speaking, footsteps suddenly came from outside the cave, and people were talking in Miao language.

Shi Feiyang covered Zheng Lingyi's mouth and whispered in her ear, "Don't make a sound." His breath brushed against her earlobe, and Zheng Lingyi felt her whole body burning up, her heart pounding like a drum. The two huddled close behind the boulder, listening to the footsteps growing closer.

Footsteps stopped at the cave entrance, and two disciples of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect entered, carrying torches. One of them muttered, "That guy surnamed Shi is cunning. If it weren't for the Heart-Eating Spider, he would have been really difficult to deal with." The other chuckled coldly, "Once we get the Star Moon Divine Sect's secret treasure, we'll dominate the martial world..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Feiyang had already approached like a ghost, unleashing his "Heavenly Silkworm Skill." A crystalline light flowed from his palm, forming silver silkworm threads that wrapped around the throats of the two men. The two men's eyes widened instantly, the sound of their internal organs being crushed being exceptionally clear in the silent cave.

Looking at his decisive and ruthless manner, Zheng Lingyi felt no fear whatsoever; instead, a strange emotion welled up within her.

After clearing out the enemies, Shi Feiyang was about to examine the runes on the cave wall when he suddenly felt a gust of wind.

He swung his sword backhand, and the Xuan Shuang Blade collided with a Miao sword, sparks flying everywhere.

The newcomer was a Miao woman wearing silver ornaments in her hair. Her eyes were sinister as she cursed, "Shi Feiyang, you dog thief, how dare you kill a disciple of my Ten Thousand Poisons Sect!"

Zheng Lingyi flicked out her soft whip, wrapping it around the other person's wrist, and warned, "Shi Feiyang, be careful of what she's hiding in her sleeve..."

Before she could finish speaking, the Miao woman threw out a handful of poison powder.

Shi Feiyang grabbed Zheng Lingyi and retreated hastily, but a small amount of poison powder still clung to the corner of her clothes, instantly corroding the fabric and creating a large hole.

Shi Feiyang angrily cursed, "You ignorant monster, how dare you challenge me? Hmph, in your next life!" Instantly, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and the "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill was activated. The Miao girl suddenly spat out blood and curled up into a monkey shape.

After dealing with the enemy, he discovered that Zheng Lingyi's arm had been cut by poison, the wound was black and was spreading at a visible speed.

"Don't move," Shi Feiyang said urgently, his face grave. He lowered his head and sucked out the poisonous blood from her wound, mouthful by mouthful.

Zheng Lingyi's heart pounded even faster as she looked at his earnest expression. After the poisonous blood was drained, Shi Feiyang raised his head, his crystal-clear eyes reflecting her flushed face, and said with a playful smile, "Miss Zheng, now it's your turn to owe me a life."

Zheng Lingyi turned her head away and whispered, "Who needs your help..." but couldn't help but smile.

At that moment, thunder rumbled outside the cave, and a torrential downpour began.

The torrential rain washed away the bloodstains at the cave entrance, but Shi Feiyang and Zheng Lingyi paid no heed to the thunder outside. The glow of the tinderbox flickered on the damp stone walls, distorting the shadows of the strange runes.

Zheng Lingyi gently brushed her fingertips across the engravings, sweeping away years of accumulated dust from the cuffs embroidered with star and moon patterns, and introduced, "These runes are the lost 'Starfall Script' of the Star Moon Divine Sect, which only the sect leader can decipher... but the last line is actually mixed with the ancient seal script of the Yihua Palace."

Shi Feiyang's crystal-clear eyes gleamed slightly. As he circulated the Mingyu Gong, the chill emanating from his palms condensed into frost flowers on the stone wall. When the frost spread over the runes, dark red lines suddenly seeped from the engravings, outlining half of a fragmented star map in the air.

He exclaimed with sudden realization, "So that's how it is." He chuckled softly, then took out two halves of a jade pendant from his pocket and said with certainty, "These jade pendants are not only keys, but also the fuse to unlock the star map."

Before he finished speaking, a sound of rocks cracking suddenly came from the top of the cave.

Countless sharp stone cones fell like a rainstorm. Just as Zheng Lingyi's soft whip wrapped around Shi Feiyang's wrist, he used the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill to fling the two of them along the trajectory of the falling stone cones.

Amidst the flying pebbles, they barely avoided a deadly trap, only to stumble into a deep, dark passage.

At the end of the secret passage lay a deep, dark green pool, its surface dotted with phosphorescent flames, like the eyes of countless ghostly figures. Zheng Lingyi's soft whip suddenly tightened, warning, "Be careful! This is the 'Soul-Devouring Pool.' Any living thing that approaches will be devoured by the... "

Her warning was interrupted by a piercing roar. The pool water exploded, and a giant python, three zhang long, burst forth, its scales covered with human-face-shaped protrusions, each "eye" oozing a foul-smelling slime. Shi Feiyang drew his Xuan Shuang Blade and unleashed the "Mountain Splitting" technique from the Hundred Victories Blade Method! The shockwave from the blade struck the python's body, but only scraped off a few bloody scales.

(End of this chapter)